It is remarkable how many
people fail to achieve success in their careers simply because they have never
taken the time out to analyze what success looks like for them and to create a
plan to get there. The road to success is never accidental even though luck and
circumstance can lend a helping hand along the way. Successful professionals who
are able to sustain their success have a vision, plan astutely, take stock
regularly and work very hard and very smart to realize their success.
The following are some key tips to help you along the road to achieving your
career ambitions.
1. Set goals
The surest way never to achieve any lofty goals is not to set them in the first
place. Take a holistic approach to deciding what your priorities and goals are
in life before you hone in on your specific career goals. Specifically, what
sort of balance and end result are you seeking to achieve in the important areas
of your life:- finance, career, health, relationships, self development etc. You
will undermine your career success if your goals in other areas of your life
contradict or conflict with your career goals. You will also sabotage your
chances of success if you set too many goals; focus instead on a few clear,
achievable ones that you are enthusiastic about pursuing. Your goals can take
the form of “being” goals and “doing” goals and should be accompanied with a
timeline for getting there and a plan of action.
2. Be committed
Once you set your goals, be committed to achieving them. Have a vision in front
of you at all times and clear milestones along the way. Your dedication and
motivation should never waver if you are convinced of the goals you have set
yourself. Sometimes feelings of unworthiness and lack of confidence hinder your
progress; remind yourself that you deserve success and work on building your
confidence if you are in fact sabotaging your career in this way. Focus on
accomplishments rather than just performance.
3. Measure your Progress
Once you embark on your journey towards achieving your goals it is crucial that
you monitor and measure your progress along the way. Are you reaching the
milestones you set out to reach within the desired time span? Is your progress
proceeding at the right pace and quality? Make sure you are clearly aware of the
impact your actions have on the organization’s bottom line whether they be in
terms of money made, money saved, time saved, deals closed, new relationships
initiated, processes optimized etc. Try to always monetize your individual
accomplishments in order to most accurately keep track of your direct impact on
the organization’s bottom line. The most minor product or process enhancements
sometimes have a dramatic impact on a company’s bottom line.
4. Market your Accomplishments
You need to take a proactive approach towards promoting yourself if you are to
reap the full fruits of your success. Make sure your individual accomplishments
are recognized by all the key decision-makers in the organization and
particularly those who influence your career progress. It is quite common for
credit to be misallocated and for accomplishments to be undervalued or
overlooked altogether so don’t be shy about singing your own praises providing
you stick to the facts and exercise tact and diplomacy.
5. Build a Personal Network
Your success will to a large extent depend on your ability to build alliances
and garner the support of others including peers, superiors, subordinates,
clients, suppliers and others you interact with on a daily basis to get the job
done. Work on building a reputation and network both within your organization
and outside so you are immediately considered for lucrative new opportunities,
recognized as the best man/woman for top jobs and insp ire trust and credibility
in broader industry circles. Expand your circle of influence by networking,
attending industry events, seeking to be allocated to important projects in
other divisions, volunteering in high profile events and activities etc.
6. Maintain an Open Dialogue with Superiors
Don’t be shy of those higher up than you in the executive ranks. Seek to
regularly communicate with your superiors and build a rapport with
decision-making executives in your organization who could have a say in your
mobility and advancement. The more they know you and the more comfortable they
are with you, the likelier you are to be elevated to their ranks.
7. Mentor and be Mentored
Find a mentor you respect and value and arrange to meet regularly to sound off
ideas and get advice on how to best achieve your goals and negotiate hurdles and
milestones along the way. Seek to mentor someone perhaps lower down the rungs in
the organizational ladder in return to build rapport as a future leader and
widen your circle of influence.
8. Sharpen your Skills
With every project and activity you complete, new hire, new client, new problem
solved, chances are you have learned something new and sharpened a particular
skillset. Ongoing learning is critical to your personal development and career
success. Identify a training path that fills key skills gaps, augments your
strengths and keeps you at the cutting-edge of whatever you do so that you don’t
become redundant and loose your competitive edge.
9. Maintain a Professional Image
Your professional image plays an important role in your career success. Dress,
look, sound and act the part and surround yourself with positive, successful
people who are also known to take their careers seriously.
10. Communicate Effectively
Learn to get your message across effectively, share your successes, learnings
and experiences, maintain a positive dialogue and influence and inspire others.
Key skills including professional writing, active listening, empathic listening,
public speaking, effective presenting, win-win negotiating and communicating in
a crisis are all important in determining your career success as are any other
communication skills that further your ability to persuade, build affinity and
understand.
It’s never too late to attain new levels of professional success. Good Luck!